NBA: Clippers roll into the break with a victory over Nuggets

For better or worse, the Clippers will dart off in 15 or so different directions over the next four days, pushed into the All-Star break with a 103-95 win over the Denver Nuggets that ended an annoying two-game losing streak and provides a happy platform from which to enjoy their time off.

It was a struggle throughout, but Chris Paul erupted in the second half with 23 of his team season-high 36 points to help pull away from the injured but pesky Nuggets.

Paul was everywhere, punishing the Nuggets with long-range daggers and blowing past defenders for drives to the basket or dish offs to open teammates.

Denver led by five points mid-way through the third but behind Paul the Clippers led by one at the end of the quarter then built a lead of six early in the fourth.

The Nuggets pulled even, eventually taking the lead back, but a jumper from Caron Butler followed by a layup from DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers jumped ahead 95-92 with 3:28 remaining.

Blake Griffin, who finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, pushed the lead to seven with four free throws and Jordan followed a missed Griffin free throw with a slam dunk to put the Clippers ahead 101-93 with one minute left and the Clippers held on from there.

Now comes the All-Star break.

The good news is the frantic, furious lockout-created schedule is halted for the moment, a welcome respite for a weary team beaten down by a relentless pace in which games come in flurries and down time is scarce.

On the flip side All-Star starters Paul and Griffin will be front and center this weekend in Orlando, their rest dependent on how well they manage their busy schedule and the self discipline to pace themselves accordingly.

Meanwhile, four days off also means four lost opportunities to practice, something a young team trying to fit a new system to new players can ill afford at such a critical juncture.

It's trying enough blending so many new faces together on the fly -- and a demanding schedule that prohibits sufficient practice time only complicates the process.

Now comes a prolonged layoff, the Clippers going their separate ways for the weekend before gathering again Monday morning.

The final image produced from the first half can be interpreted a couple of ways.

They struggled for the third straight game, perhaps the sign of a tired team gasping for air at the break.

"We've had a difficult schedule, like everyone, but it's the way the schedule is," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "You can't worry about it you have to manage it as best you can."

Or perhaps it's just the inevitable ramifications of adding so many new faces - some of whom jumped aboard during the season - while also making up for the devastating loss of Chauncey Billups to an Achilles' tendon injury three weeks ago.

In any event, there were moments when they looked like a team still not quite on the same page, still uncertain at times and unsure of where to be and when.

Denver was playing without Nene, Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari, three impact starters for the Nuggets.